Man Loses 8,000 Bitcoin Worth $700 Million After Wife Throws Away Hard Drive

James Howells, a 39-year-old engineer from Newport, UK, has spent over a decade trying to recover a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin accidentally thrown into the trash by his ex-wife in 2013. Despite his relentless efforts, local authorities have blocked his attempts to search the landfill where it’s believed the drive is buried.

The Lost Bitcoin Treasure

In 2013, during a home cleanup, Howells’ then-wife unintentionally discarded the hard drive holding the private keys necessary to access his Bitcoin. At the time, the cryptocurrency was worth approximately $5 million, but today, the value has skyrocketed to over $700 million, according to BBC reports.

Believing the hard drive is buried in Newport’s Docksway landfill, Howells has repeatedly appealed to the city council for permission to search the site. His proposals, which include offering 10% of the Bitcoin’s value to the city, have been denied due to environmental concerns.

Legal Battle and a $600 Million Lawsuit

In October, Howells filed a lawsuit against the Newport City Council, demanding $600 million in damages. He accused the council of blocking his legitimate attempts to retrieve the hard drive and retaining his property without consent.

Howells proposed a detailed search plan to sift through over 1.4 million tons of waste at the landfill, targeting the area where he believes the drive is located. However, city officials argue that the environmental impact and financial burden of such an operation are too significant.

A council spokesperson stated that Howells’ legal claim lacks merit, and they remain steadfast in rejecting his proposals.

Future of the Lost Bitcoin

If the hard drive remains buried, the Bitcoin—now valued at hundreds of millions—will be permanently lost. For Howells, this represents not only a personal financial disaster but also a cautionary tale about safeguarding digital assets.

Despite the ongoing legal disputes, Howells remains optimistic, predicting the value of his Bitcoin could reach £1 billion ($1.2 billion) by next year if the cryptocurrency market continues its upward trend.

Key Takeaways for Protecting Digital Wealth

This high-profile case underscores the importance of securely storing private keys and maintaining backups for cryptocurrency wallets. As the world increasingly adopts digital currencies, safeguarding these assets will become even more critical to prevent similar losses.